St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-04-02
R RETRI B U ITO n.
BY "THE DUCHESS"
CHAPTER X.

NuAf LTG a.
1t is about five in the afternoon when
Nadine rushes up the stairs, Mortified
by what she has just heard in the hall,
and filings herself into her friends arms.
"Such thing to happen to you!" she
cries, in her little rapid fashion. "The
miscreant!-the assassin! Oh, A1illicent,
when Brown (the butler> stopped me
in the hall to tell me the dreadful news
nearly tainted. Only the idea of seeing
you face to face to make sure of your cs-
cape sustained me, and gave me strength
10 get here"
Indeed, she is as pale as a ghost. and
her eyes are full of tears. Sweet eyes, a>
full of love as tears.
"Weu, now you have seen me-" with
Aaale trembling Nadine 'cheer up a bit,
and let the blood flow into those wan
cheeks Talking about blood flowing.
I'm glad mine was not let loose last
n&ht"
"Oh!. don't-don't'' says Nadine,
shuddering violently.
''Well. there, there. I have unneryed
you, and I ought to be ashamed Of my
self. But the fact is. I am unnerved my
self, only my nervousness has the effect
of raising rcnsc of ridicule within me.
/ cannot keep from jcsting OH last
nights adventure, though | dare say to-
morrow / shall be Frustrated. 1t is Il
strange excitement, better not iudulgcd.
Well! it is an i'll wind that blows nobody
good. You cannot compel me, tyrcnt
that you are! to stammer over my Ger
man to-day"
An ARRANGEMENT had been entered into
between thcrn some weeks ago, when
Millicent had beclf brought ont, and was
EIpposed to have left her childhood and
the schoolroom behind her. Nadine,
for many reasons, would not consent to
be her companion. One was because she
could not well leave her mother; another
because of her engagement TO Paul An
nerley; another Nyas it so very import
ant0 because she could not give up the
tuition of Mr.. Duran's little daughter.
So Millicent had squared matters by de-
elaring to her auutie that though she
considered she knew as much music as
would carry her on through life, her
knowledge of German was still singularly
deficient, and auntie delighted ut this
trait of intellectual diligence in her
niece, had at once requested Miss Roche
to continue her three visits week to
Park lane as heretofore.
Tell me about it, says Nadine breath
Ies}sly, her big blue eyes enlarged with
feir and curiosity. She has seated her.
self on dainty prie dieu, and is leaning
forward with clasped hands in IN attit fle
highly suggestive of prayer. and thrre-
fore Highly suited to the chair.
Milicent, nothing loath, makes he
present of the entire scene from be i'm
ming to end.
t'He might have been much worse
burglar, all things considered, and there
was quite a 'uch of chivalry-a Suspic-
ion of Claude Duval-in the fact of his
making me present of my own locket,"
she says, still unable to refrain from
turning the whole thing into ridicule.
ITO go to the very root of the matter. it
Tast be confessed that | am the proud
s,ossessor of his heart. He left me that
at least"
1.-THE coward"' says Nadine, clasping
her pretty hands, ito attack alone one
poor womanl But, Millicent, from what
you tell me, IL don't think the burglar
f4Spld have been quite common man.
Was he tall-handsome!'
f.Handsone! Why, / couldn't see
feature in his face. You don't suppose
that that sort of person comes around
with IN open, ingenious countenance,
ready for all mems Inspections Ii so, you
are mistaken My burglar came with
mask that prevented me from seeing the
chiseled features that feel convinced lay
beneath It, Altogether, he was not of the
common, every day lot that one meets.
He was departure from the regular
fines He was strange TO me! Strange.
And yeti
Suddenly the half mocking, wholly gay
air she has used hitherto drops from her,
and she turns upon Nadine startled
glance. She leans toward her, and lay
ing her hand uHon her shoulders, subjects
her to an exhaustive scrutiny.
81 must speak. I must tell you,' she
says at last at has weighed upon me
ever since, and-and-the others would
consider it in the light of nightmare.
sar else say the idea arose from feeling
of nervous horror; but 1t did not"
"What is it, Millicent? You forget I
do not understand, +" says Nadine, little
swed by the solemnity of the others
glance
nJust this: that that terrible burglar,
from the time he entered my room to the
time ha left it, seemed strangely famil-
far. / / annoU account for 1t. His voice
I never heard before. He was dressed III
the clothes of common workman, and i
know no workman His face, indeed,
was hidden -
She stops abruptly as though oppressed
nv some hidden thought.
eyes, 1t was hidden" she says at last.
.Yet am pursued by hideous fear
that If CO lid have removed that mask
che features would have been familiar to
rnei''
She sinks back in her chair, looking
paIe and exhausted.
FsIt is mere nervousness, says Nadine
teiderly. "A chimera arising from an
0yefwrought sensibility. Do not think
of him again, darling. Rest, and time